When We Wake

My name is Marigold Smith. I am diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. My mom says I have something wrong with my brain to where I can't walk and I have a lot of trouble talking so I just don't. I have to wheel around my wheelchair everywhere I go. I have nightmares all the time and I wake up to my mom leaning over me with a look of worry. I am homeschooled and an only child. My mom is my best friend, but I have other friends as well from my homeschooled group. My dad had left me and my mom when I was ten months old and all I know about him is that he was a coward. Too afraid to face his helpless, ugly baby. Mom doesn't like talking about him much because it makes her sad. No one knows besides mom that I have deep intelligence and I love learning just because everyone thinks I am retarded. I hate that word, retarded, it makes me sick. especially when people think I'm retarded. Until things start to change, mom changes and she won't tell me why...